Stop motion for circular looms



Feb. 9, 1937. J JAB'QULEY AL 2,069,954

STOP MOTION FOR CIRCULAR LOOMS Filed Sept. 18, 1935 M -us Patented F eb. 9, 1937 UNITE STATES PATENT OFFICE STOP MOTION FOR CIRCULAR LOOBIS Delaware Application September 18, 1935, Serial No. 41,067 In Great Britain September 21, 1934 2 Claims.

This invention relates to stop-motions for circular looms, and is particularly concerned with the provision of means for detecting incorrect warp shedding and bringing to an end relative motion between the shuttles and the warps, so as to avoid faulty weaving which would be effected if the movement were allowed to continue.

According to the invention means are provided which comprise stop mechanism adapted on actuation to stop weaving by bringing to an end relative motion between the shuttle or shuttles and the warp threads, a detector member adapted to feel a sheet of warp threads, and means controlled by said member and adapted upon detection of missing warps in the sheet by the member to effect actuation of the stop mechanism.

With advantage the warp-feeling or detector member controls a switch in an electric circuit, electric operation enabling the detection of incorrect warp shedding and consequent floats in the resultant fabric to be followed substantially immediately by cessation of weaving. Again, the provision of electrical control allows of great sensitivity of the warp detecting means, and the simplicity of connection between the detecting and stopping means reduces the number of moving parts in the stop mechanism to a minimum.

The stop mechanism may serve to connect a normally stationary part of the loom (e. g. a ring carrying the shuttles) to a rotating part in the case of the shuttles normally remaining stationary while the warps rotate, or to bring to rest a normally rotating part (e. g. the shuttlecarrying ring) in the case of the shuttles being rotated to efiect weaving.

The following description with reference to the accompanying drawing is directed to the application of the invention to a loom with rotating shuttles.

In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of one shuttle of a circular loom, and the stop-mechanism in association therewith;

Fig. 2 shows in vertical section a shuttle and associated shedding mechanism of a type for use with which the invention is particularly suited; and

Figs. 3 and 4 show diagrammatically the operation of a warp feeler.

Referring to Figs. land 2, the shuttle 5 is shown within a shed formed by the two warp sheets 6, l. The threads of sheet 6 are controlled by the eyes of perforated reed dents 8, while the threads of sheet 1 pass freely between the dents.

A shedding wheel 9 engages the threads as they lie in their normal line- Ill, pressing all the threads radially inwards, but whereas the threads I are free to partake of this movement below the level of the reed dents 8, the threads 6 remain constrained by the eyes of the dents. The threads are thus divided into a shed into which the nose I! of the shuttle can pass.

It sometimes happens, however, that with this type of shedding mechanism a few threads fail to pass into their proper warp sheet, this resulting in faulty shedding and producing a weft float in the fabric. To detect such faulty shedding a detector [2 in the form of a light finger pivotally supported at i3 is disposed so as to feel the threads of the warp sheet 5 in rapid succession as they pass the shuttle. The detector is disposed at such a height relative to the shuttle 5 as to feel the warps at a point above the body !4 and below the upper framework l5, so that the threads 6, whilst being felt, are passing over a hollow space in the shuttle.

The feeling end N5 of the detector i2 is bent so as not to penetrate between correctly shedded threads. The other extremity ll of the detector forms a lightly operated switch, and is urged by alight spring 18 so as to cause the detector portion It continually to press against the warp threads 6.

While the spring tends to close the switch, this tendency is normally resisted by the warp threads. In the event of incorrect warp shedding, i. e. threads passing to the wrong sheet on division of the warp threads as the warp threads are about to contact with the shuttle, a corresponding gap 19 (see Fig. 4), caused by the absence of the threads, is formed in one warp sheet 6. The relative motion between the shuttle and the warp threads causes the gap to move towards the detector H which, being pressed against the warp sheet by the light spring I8, penetrates the gap and consequently rocks about its pivot B. The other end of the detector rocks accordingly and contacts with a contact member 20 to close the circuit of a stop mechanism. The contacts are thus operated quickly after incorrect shedding has taken place and the stop mechanism is then actuated to bring the weaving operation to an end.

As shown in Fig. 1, the contact 20 is part of an electrically-operated stop mechanism of the type described in detail in U. S. Patent No. 2,027,459, according to which a switch member 2| is placed adjacent each shuttle 5 and is operated on breaking or jamming of the warp threads and on breaking or absence of weft thread by means of a sliding rod 22 carried by the shuttle.

The member 2| is connected to the lead 23 and the detector I2 is also connected to the lead through the spring [8. The lead 23 and a second lead 24 connected tothe contact 20 make contact with a pair of slip rings 25, 26 carried by a ring 21 rotating with the shuttle 5 about the axis of the loom. Leads 28, 29, in one of which is included a solenoid 30, maintain slipping contact with the slip rings 25, 26 as the ring 21 rotates during the operation of the loom and provide for the closing of the solenoid circuit by actuation of,

either the member 2| or the detector I2.

When'the solenoid circuit is completed, one end of a latch lever 3| is attracted against the action of a spring 32 to release a lever 33. This lever 33,.though acted upon by a powerful spring 34, is normally restrained by the latch lever 3|, but, when released, allows the spring 34 to pull a brake band 35 tightly on to the ring 21 and bring the ring to rest, so causing weaving to cease.

At the same time, the drive to the loom may be interrupted, there being included in the circuit formed'by the leads 28, 29 a further solenoid controlling a clutch mechanism as described in U. S. applications S. Nos. 30,059 filed 6th July 1935 and 31,600 filed 16th July 1935.

' nism adapted on actuation to stop weaving by bringing to an end relative motion between the shuttles and the warp threads, a detector member movable in a direction transverse to a warp sheet, means adapted to urgethe member in that direction so that while the member is normally restrained against movement by the presence of threads in the sheet, it is freed for movement by the absence of threads from the sheet, and means controlled by said detector member andadapted on.movement of the member upon detection of missing warp threads to effect actuation of the stop mechanism.

2.A circular loom according to claim 1 wherein the stop mechanism is electrically actuated and the detector member controls a switch, operation of which brings'about actuation of the stop- 

